Dr Joost De Maeseneer Head Team Physician at Astana is also under investigation by ADD in relation to his work at CSC, he is very likely to be suspended when that report eventually comes out. Jörg Jaksche has testified against him has already been made clear.

I suppose we could well see another three cases before the winter comes.

I am expecting that report to be a lot bigger than what people might expect, I mean they said they was almost done a year ago, think about how much extra information they must have got to make it go this much over time.

On Thursday Continental Team Astana received notification of an adverse analytical finding for anabolic androgenic steroids in the A-sample of Ilya Davidenok, taken during the Tour de l'Avenir in August 2014.

In full accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, Continental Team Astana has taken direct and immediate action to provisionally suspend the rider from October 17, 2014 pending further investigation.

A full internal investigation to establish grounds and causes will be conducted immediately.

Management and riders at Continental Team Astana are shocked and angered to learn such news; as members of the MPCC (Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible), the team makes a strong and concerted effort to prevent riders from using prohibited performance enhancing substances.

Continental Team Astana expects an immediate and thorough explanation from the rider; in case of admission of guilt the team will exercise its right to refuse the defense of a rider who fails to meet his obligation to respect rules and ethics as stipulated in his contract.

Khazak cycling has always been one of those murky swamps which is very obviously rotten. And the fact is that whilst Davidenok wasn't racing for Astana at the race, he was contracted to Astana as a Stagaire at the time.I am not sure what the MPCC rules are regarding Stagaires and the fact he wasn't racing for his team at the time of the positive, but what are the repercussions for three positives for an MPCC team?

That is 3 positives for the team essentially, all around the same time. Suggesting that this wasn't just isolated doping..

Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation Dmitry Ants answered questions from the press service, told about how they are going to fight against doping in Kazakhstan.

- Dmitry, what do you think about another doping scandal in "Astana Proteam"?

- We in the Federation were just astounded by the news. After two positive doping tests is the third - is in any gate not climbing! Very alarming that doping caught a young athlete. Novice cyclists - the most vulnerable group, and their most difficult to control. Youth is fluent in computer technology, finds its own information on the Internet about the drugs that increase endurance, the various banned substances, buy them through the same Internet. All for the sake of quick results. This is fundamentally wrong, and we are going to fight in the Federation with this state of affairs.

Already in August, after the first ring - History Valentin Iglinskiy, we started developing a special anti-doping program. The program will be implemented jointly with the Kazakhstan national anti-doping center and focus on young athletes. Specialists of the center will take doping tests in all national competitions for young riders zavedut biometric passports, if someone gets in the doping, the coach of a minor athlete will be held accountable under the law, of course. And plus - we will drive across the country with training seminars. We will talk with young drivers, telling them about the dangers of doping, by example to show that it is possible to go without doping. I personally will take part in such meetings.

- And when the program you are talking about, will come into force?

- It is now ready to sign a draft memorandum between the Federation and Kazakhstan's national anti-doping center, and from January 1, 2015, we will start working on this program. I repeat - we want to spend a special training seminary in each area, to invite young athletes, coaches. You see, not all young people are aware of the harm of doping bears - not only athletic career harm and injury. Young riders dismiss adults from coaches. But when it comes to such a lecture their idol, the star, a professional, I think that kids listen to and understand how much can be dangerous dope. I'm sure many will be friends with the head and engage in sports, exercise, and not to sit on the internet and seek out sites where you can buy not know that ...

- But was doping cyclists "Astana Proteam" - not the kids, and certainly understood what they were doing ...

- All riders club sign contracts, which clearly says that they have no right to use any chemicals - food, medicines, vitamins, without coordination with sports doctors. Doctor gives the rider the only proven means that no prohibited substances. Breach of contract - dismissal from the team. Everyone knows it. Why do athletes take that risk - I do not understand. Stupidity is complete. For its part, the part of the representative of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation can not repeat all that we can do - is to warn every driver that doping is prohibited to talk about the consequences, but to control every athlete is unrealistic, and it is not our problem. Control - is the prerogative of the anti-doping services, and the Kazakhstan National Anti-Doping Center as part of our joint program will strengthen measures doping control to the required biological passport riders.

- What disciplinary measures will be taken to the cyclist Ilya Davydenko?

- Everything will depend on whether the athlete will be decided on the opening of the sample "B". Now he says that nothing illegal is not accepted. If you agree to the opening of the control sample, it will be necessary to wait for the results. If the second test shows a positive result - we will respond within the rules UCI. If sample "B" will not open and the athlete is recognized in the use of illicit substances - that also will respond synchronously with the UCI.

- Nikolai Proskurin, former vice president of the Cycling Federation has accused the current leadership of inaction and said that during his time in office were no such cases. Have you seen his statement?

- Nicholas Abramovich is not quite right, and if it were in the Federation of doping scandals. Then, the brothers Iglinskiy - they grew up just when Mr. Proskurin was at the helm. But I must admit that the criticism of the Federation is well grounded, we are in fact in recent years paid more attention to international projects. As for the anti-doping work among young people - I said - very soon will start a new program to combat doping, we actively develop and support a new national system of doping control. According to the director of the Kazakhstan national anti-doping center Myra Bakasheva, only this year Kazakhstan riders were taken 85 doping tests. They all showed negative results. But apparently this is not enough, and we will increase the number of doping tests fold.

National Center - a fully independent organization, they're licensed WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), they work under the program, consistent with the international agency, take samples of young riders and the results are also sent to the WADA.

- Anti-Doping program is now under development, and that you, as the Federation, are doing and have done for the development of cycling in the country?

- Indeed, recent years Ireland has focused on the development of professional cycling. With our active participation in four new cycling team: Track Team Astana, Continental Team Astana, female Astana BePink, club Vino4erver. We organized a full-fledged branches in 10 regions of the federation. In Kazakhstan, there was the first professional cycling race "Tour Almaty" and successfully passed the second time, now in conjunction with the UCI we are working on the organization in 2015 "Tour of Astana". Kazakhstan started to accept and major international tournaments: in 2011, at the cycle track "Sary-Arka" held World Cup, this year we were the masters of the Asian championship in cycling, in 2015 accepted the World Junior Championships at the cycle track.

- For the first time in a long time representative of the Kazakh Cycling won the world title

- Alexey Lutsenko became the first in the world among juniors. Alexandre Vinokourov won the Olympic "gold". Thanks to the victories of our stars on the international cycling the country has witnessed an unprecedented surge of interest in cycling, bike paths are built, veloparkovki, in almost every village held a massive bicycle races. In 2015, we just want to actively engage in the development of youth and mass cycling. Section, sports schools, bicycle races, equipping schools with sports equipment, form - that is the main focus of our activities in the coming years. It is clear that we are only at the beginning, and we have a lot to do, but we are all professionals and are not afraid of difficulties.

here is also the interview with that "former vice president", including one new information at least....

Quote

(gt)

- Brothers Iglinskiy and now also Davydenok. Is it too much for two months for a cycling team?

- Referring to the Max and Valentina, I will say that the guys went on the wrong track. Why did they do that - I do not know, but did absolutely unjustly. Especially because Iglinskiy Sr. was going to end up with cycling this year. But now reaping the fruits of their stupidity that's the way. As for the young Davydenko, it is the result of poor performance of our Cycling Federation. It is these officials should ensure that young riders did not use illicit drugs. Conduct outreach work ... Finally, enter the biological passport. They are all fixated only on a professional team "Astana".

- You accuse Cycling Federation, but maybe in these precedents is to blame and the management of "Astana"?

- No way! I know how much work is underway against doping in the team. There is this tough. Guys just warn that if someone gets caught, then it not only immediately expelled from the "Astana", but also forever be deprived of the right to engage in professional cycling. And note - three cases of positive doping tests and everywhere - the racers of our country. Foreigners is not present! It only means that I have mentioned above. That is, at the level of the rising talents in our complete neglect. A young talents grow and develop as a free Federation. When we worked together with the PV RK Danial Kenzhetaevich (Akhmetov - Honorary President of the Republic of Kazakhstan PV. - MV), this was not even close. We promptly stopped it.

- What sanctions are now waiting for a cycling team "Astana" and PV RK?

- I do not think that the "Astana" can now deny a license Pro. Rather, the team can not participate in several professional racing. But Cycling Federation will suffer more seriously and probably undergo fines.

A reminder, if ever one was needed, that such a close relationship between a pro team and a national authority has benefits as well as drawbacks.

Though prima facie impressive, the AD programme discussed by Muravyev above actually relates only to "testing while competing on Kazakh soil" and the national roster.

So it is a response to Davidenok rather than the Iglinskiys, presumably because the authority considers it wiser to focus on today's youth than a pair of dirty old hacks and let the UCI handle the latter type in the ordinary course of business.

And yet none of Astana's three positives occurred on Kazakh soil. So even if it was already functional this year, a putative Kazakh AD programme probably wouldn't have changed those results. Does the brain training of seminars work once the Kazakh kids have landed on European soil? Does it echo in their heads when they sign for that Monaco apartment?

I was just reading about Kessiakoff struggling to get a contract for 2015.

As the article (on CN) points out, he had an excellent 2012. Something flashed in my head: several of Astana's middle rankers had a conspicuously good season then, when the team looked short on ideas once Vinokourov retired (and before the investment in Nibali).

So apart from Vinokourov winning the Olympic RR, it was a solid year for Kessiakoff, Brajkovic and Gasparotto, none of whom have been at anything like that level since then. That was also a big year for Kreuziger and he's being investigated for his numbers during that time.

Let's not forget just how powerful Astana were as a team in last year's Giro, plus Nibs miraculous improvement in the couple of weeks before this year's Tour. In my view he is as dodgy as Valverde and Bertie.